NEWS
Aug 30, 2010 - SCHOLARLY POV
In this Aug. 18 blog post, Baker Institute fellow Joe Barnes expresses his support for the construction of an Islamic community center two blocks away from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks in New York. He cites three reasons for his support of the project, which opponents have described as a “Ground Zero Mosque”: Do you think the Islamic community center should be built near Ground Zero? Why or why not? Join the conversation at the Baker Institute Blog.
Aug 23, 2010 - Helping Houstonians beat the heat
When a group of Baker Institute interns and students involved with Rice University's Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) discovered that only 36 percent of qualifying households were participating in the City of Houston's Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP), they were determined to find out why. REEP, a free program made available through the city, uses
different techniques to protect homes from the elements and to optimize
energy efficiency. These adjustments include caulking
windows, installing attic insulation,
sealing doors and other energy conservation techniques that mitigate the
effects of weather on a home. Under the supervision of Robert Stein, Lena Grohlman Fox Professor of Political Science; Stephanie Post, executive director of the CCE; and Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies, the students conducted a telephone survey of Sharpstown, an ethnically diverse neighborhood of Houston where many qualifying residents live. Their findings suggest that economic benefits, such as lower energy
bills and higher resale value of weatherized homes, are most attractive
to potential participants. The students also provide recommendations for the city to generate interest in REEP, including highlighting financial perks, making more information available on the Internet and asking participants to install yard signs to help publicize the program to their neighbors. Support for this study was generously provided by the Baker Institute, the Center for Civic Engagement, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Aug 12, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
Nathan Lo (Rice '13), an intern with the Science and Technology Policy Program, spent part of his summer volunteering with the Baylor College of Medicine Shoulder to Shoulder Foundation in Santa Ana, Intibuca, Honduras. Based on his experiences helping visiting doctors in the clinic, Lo shares about the challenges of providing medical support in developing nations, as well as some of the obstacles to establishing a self-sufficient clinical facility in rural areas.
Jul 30, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
Rachel Solnick (Rice '10) is an intern with the institute's Science and Technology Policy Program and a future medical student (she will begin classes at Baylor College of Medicine in fall 2011). In a recent blog, she expresses concern over income disparities between primary care physicians and specialists, advocating incentives for aspiring doctors to pursue less lucrative but very necessary fields of primary care and internal medicine.
Jul 14, 2010 - CAIRO COLLOQUIUM
This summer, 10 Rice University students traveled to Cairo to discuss
topics including human rights, religion and the news media with their
Egyptian counterparts at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The
colloquium was the first for the Baker Institute's new student-led
Public Diplomacy and Global Policymaking program. Between group discussions, the students met with the president of AUC
as well as with Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian ambassador to the United
States; visited the pyramids at Giza; rode camels across the desert; and
toured the catacombs in Alexandria — and discovered that some of the
most illuminating conversations came during relaxed moments with their
Egyptian hosts. A long bus trip led to a lively discussion about the
pros and cons of online dating and arranged marriages. "In one week I learned more than in my 30-day trip throughout
countries in Europe, where I was confined to 20 American students,"
blogged rising sophomore Marc Sabbagh from an Internet café in Cairo.
"This trip was on a new level because I was able to make friends and
still question who they are and the way their country works." The trip was organized by Sean Graham, Rice ’10, and Tom Campbell,
’11, who each blogged about their hopes and experiences on the Baker
Institute Blog. The students will publish a report on their trip in the fall. “The Cairo trip is a great example of the Baker Institute’s efforts
to engage students, the next generation of policymakers,” said Ryan
Kirksey, Baker Institute director of operations and finance. “We look
forward to supporting many such trips in the future.”
Jul 14, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
Undergraduate intern Jing Luo (Rice '11) is currently an intern with the institute's Science and Technology Policy Program, but during the Spring 2010 semester, she studied in Paris. While in France, she had the opportunity to intern for the Environment and Health Program at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), one of the Baker Institute's global partners for student internships.
Jul 06, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
In June 2010, 10 Rice University students traveled to Egypt for a colloquium with students at the American University in Cairo. While the conference covered topics including citizens' rights, the media and the future of the two countries, the participants also learned valuable cultural lessons from their Egyptian counterparts, as well as the religious and historic sites they visited.
Twitter, 
Facebook and the program's Tumblr blog.
Jun 22, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
On June 20, 2010, a group of Energy Forum staff and Rice University students departed for Ifni, Morocco, to assist Jamila Bargach, Ph.D., in developing a sustainable water source for the region. The team will work with fog-capturing nets to help relieve the water scarcity problem, as well as to survey opportunities for biofuels ventures in the region.
Jun 08, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
On June 3, 2010, 10 Rice University students departed to Egypt for a colloquium with the American University in Cairo. On the agenda are topics central to U.S.-Egyptian relations — including the rights of citizens, the role of religion, the character of the news media and the future of the two countries.Twitter, Facebook and the program's Tumblr blog.
May 25, 2010 - NASA’s Charles Bolden delivers keynote at 2010 International Space Medicine Summit
The Baker Institute recently hosted the International Space Medicine Summit (ISMS), the fourth-such conference in a series to address the challenges of long duration space flight. More than 140 leading physicians, space biomedical scientists, engineers, astronauts, cosmonauts and educators from space-faring nations around the world attended the three-day event. Representatives from Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom were included in their number. In his keynote address, NASA administrator Charles Bolden discussed President Barack Obama’s plans for the space program and his intention to send humans into deep space — a strategy that could, in the near term, mean job cuts at NASA facilities across the country. “It’s economics,” Bolden said. If private companies service flights in lower Earth orbit, NASA can devote more of its budget to developing the technologies that will take humans to asteroids, Mars and beyond. “It is a risk, yes, but we have to be brave enough to take that risk,” Bolden said. Bolden also stressed the importance of attracting a new generation of scientists and engineers to the space program. To that end, NASA’s 2011 budget will fund the education of 500 graduate students who plan to work in aerospace. “They will be the first wave of the new generation of technologists, engineers and scientists,” he said. George Abbey, the institute’s Baker Botts Senior Fellow in Space Policy and former director of the Johnson Space Center, called the ISMS a success, saying the way forward in space travel will be international cooperation and collaboration. “We will go to the moon again, and Mars, but will do it with people from other countries to make the best use of the expertise, knowledge and capabilities of other nations to achieve a common goal.” The ISMS series is co-hosted by the Baker Institute and Baylor College of Medicine. View videos of the 2010 International Space Medicine Summit.
May 24, 2010 - BORDERS KEY TO MIDDLE EAST PEACE
As the United States prepares for another round of peace talks between
Israelis and Palestinians, two issues are emerging as particularly
pressing, according to Baker Institute founding director Ambassador
Edward P. Djerejian. The first is determining the future borders of
Israel and a Palestinian state, and the second is the fate of Israeli
settlements in the West Bank. In a May 23, 2010, op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, Djerejian, a
former U.S. ambassador to Israel and to Syria, writes that "an
agreement on territory and borders, including settlements, could enable
negotiators to facilitate forward movement on other, even more
controversial issues." He cites the recent Baker Institute report, "Getting to the
Territorial Endgame of an Israeli-Palestinian Peace Settlement," which
determined that a United States territorial bridging proposal could
narrow differences to the point where an agreement could be reached.
May 21, 2010 - DRUG TRUTH ARCHIVE
The Drug Truth Archive is a collection of more than 600 online interviews on drug policy by Dean Becker, pictured right, a national radio host and speaker for law enforcement against prohibition. The interviews, which date back to 2006, are with a range of drug policy experts, including economist Milton Friedman, Harvard professor Lester Grinspoon, New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray. Many of the interviews are critical of current drug policy. The archive was acquired by the Baker Institute Drug Policy Program, which pursues research and open debate on local and national drug policies in hopes of developing pragmatic policies based on common sense, driven by human rights interests, and focused on reducing the death, disease, crime and suffering associated with drug use. A key program focus is to bring together representatives of multiple perspectives on these important issues, and to engage them in constructive dialogue. The program is led by William Martin, Ph.D., Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at the
Baker Institute and the Chavanne Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Rice
University.
May 18, 2010 - GOLD MEDAL
The Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) has awarded its top honor, the Gold Medal, to Allen Matusow, academic affairs director of the Baker Institute, for his contributions to the Rice University community. Matusow, who is also the William Gaines Twyman Professor of History, served as dean of humanities from 1981 to 1985 and has won numerous teaching awards. Recently, he was called on to serve again as interim dean when former dean accepted an appointment at another university. When the Baker Institute was launched, Matusow was named the institute’s academic affairs director and serves as a liaison between Rice faculty and the institute fellows. The ARA Gold Medal recognizes Rice alumni, faculty, staff or friends who have rendered extraordinary service to the university. Established in 1937, the ARA’s laureates program recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of outstanding Rice alumni and friends of the university.
May 13, 2010 - Happy birthday, Mr. Baker
Nearly 700 people attended a gala on April 24 at the Baker Institute
to celebrate the 80th birthday of The Honorable James A. Baker, III.
Guests enjoyed dinner, dancing and a toast from one of Mr. Baker's
closest friends, President George H.W. Bush. The event raised $3 million for the institute, including a $1 million gift from Houston attorney and philanthropist Joseph D. Jamail. Read the Baker Institute Update newsletter for additional information about the gala. You can also download video of the remarks by: The Honorable James A. Baker, III, right, with The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian (Photo by Bill Olive) Gala co-chairs Aliyya Stude, Courtney Sarofim and Isabel
Lummis (Photo by Bill Olive) Gala hosts and honorary chairs, The Honorable Hushang Ansary and Mrs. Shahla Ansary (Photo by Bill Olive) Françoise Djerejian with Joseph D. Jamail, whose $1 million gift to the institute was announced during the gala, and Clare Glassell (Photo by Bill Olive) President George H.W. Bush congratulates his friend, The Honorable James A. Baker, III (Photo by Richard Carson) The Honorable James A. Baker, III, stands with his wife, Susan Baker, in front of his birthday cake (Photo by George Wong) A special 80th birthday book retracing James A. Baker, III's personal and public life, authored by Françoise Djerejian in collaboration with Rice University Director of Creative Services Jeff Cox, was presented as a gift to the donors attending the gala. 
May 11, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
What does it take to get Rice University students interested in
public policy? Is it big-name speakers? Hot topics and discussions on
current events? Or perhaps even free food? According to Robert Meister (Brown '10, pictured right) and Ruchir
Shah (Brown '12), outgoing and incoming presidents of the Baker
Institute Student Forum, it's a little bit of all these factors and
more.
May 10, 2010 - SHALE GAS WILL CHANGE THE WORLD
Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the Baker Institute, writes about shale gas in a commentary in the May 10, 2010, edition of The Wall Street Journal. Jaffe, who also is the director of the Baker Institute Energy Forum, writes: "I have been studying the energy markets for 30 years, and I am convinced that shale gas will revolutionize the industry — and change the world — in the coming decades. It will prevent the rise of any new cartels. It will alter geopolitics. And it will slow the transition to renewable energy."
May 03, 2010 - DANGER AND OPPORTUNITY
Information courtesy of Simon & Schuster, Inc. In his new book “Danger and Opportunity: An American Ambassador's Journey Through the Middle East,” Baker Institute founding director Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian asserts that Americans are confronted with one of the most important challenges of our time: the struggle of ideas between the forces of extremism and moderation in the Arab and Muslim world. Mistakenly assuming that radical political ideologies fell with communism at the end of the Cold War, policymakers are employing insufficient strategies to promote the important political, economic, commercial, cultural and security interests that the United States — and the rest of the world — have in the region. Djerejian, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria and to Israel, explains what has gone wrong with U.S. policy and suggests a way forward for future administrations. The United States must learn to deal with the complex religious, ethnic and cultural factors at play in the Middle East. We must not impose our own political structure on the Arab and Muslim world, but we can help marginalize the radicals and champion a democratic way of life in conformity with the cultural context of the region's own mainstream values and ideals. In his captivating and illuminating book — the only one of its kind to address the full scope of issues that U.S. leaders face in the Middle East — Djerejian outlines specific coherent strategies necessary to respond effectively to the imminent danger and dynamic opportunity presented by the struggle within the Islamic world. He also publicly shares for the first time intimate details and colorful anecdotes of his service in the Middle East. Djerejian, an American diplomat who served
eight presidents, both Democratic and Republican, from John F. Kennedy
to William Jefferson Clinton, developed close professional relationships with many of the region's secular and religious leaders and was a key adviser to Washington's highest-ranking officials and political leaders. He was instrumental in formulating U.S. policy in the region and participated actively in Arab-Israeli peace negotiations, the release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon, and the formation of the U.S.-led coalition against Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Read the Rice News article about Ambassador Djerejian's book. "Ed Djerejian, one of our nation's most respected diplomats, frames the need for settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the context of the larger forces at play in the Muslim world with gripping personal narratives and coherent policy recommendations. Danger and Opportunity enriches our comprehension of one of the central issues of our time." "Those in government have long been beneficiaries of Edward Djerejian's unparalleled expertise in Middle Eastern affairs. In Danger and Opportunity, Djerejian provides the general public with a sweeping overview of the myriad challenges the United States faces in the region, as well as pragmatic policies for managing them. It is a timely, persuasive, and immensely enjoyable book that anyone interested in America's relationship with this critical region must read."
Praise for "Danger and Opportunity":
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States of America
"Danger and Opportunity deserves the attention of policy-makers for its insightful and pragmatic roadmap that provides the best chance for empowering the moderate and marginalizing the extremist elements that are seeking to tear apart the civil institutions of the region."
- Henry A. Kissinger, 56th U.S. Secretary of State
"Few people understand the Middle East as well, or have as much hands-on experience with it, as Ed Djerejian. He was my right-hand man for this region when I was Secretary of State and he played a key role in making the Madrid Peace Conference possible. The only American to ever serve as ambassador to both Syria and Israel, he expertly weaves those and other unique experiences with his vast knowledge and astute analysis of that critically important region of the world into this enlightening book. Danger and Opportunity is a must-read."
- James A. Baker III, 61st U.S. Secretary of State
- Lee H. Hamilton, President and Director, Woodrow Wilson International Center
Apr 15, 2010 - STUDENT VOICES
Leaders at the National Institutes of Health and other government grant-making agencies must find
ways to fund new investigators if young people are to remain interested
in science careers and cutting-edge research, contends Kara Calhoun (Martel '11), an undergraduate intern for the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program working under the supervision of Kirstin R.W. Matthews. Otherwise, she writes in a recent Baker Institute Blog post, the scientific
community will suffer greatly without a steady flow of young minds
willing to take a chance. Calhoun, who plans on becoming a doctor, is dismayed by research that shows most grant funding goes to older scientists.
Apr 05, 2010 - The Great Recession
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. and World
Bank President Robert Zoellick recently visited the Baker Institute to discuss the
great recession from domestic and global perspectives. In separate presentations, both men underscored the
seriousness and extent of the economic situation. The world is facing an uneven recovery from the worst
economic downturn in a generation, Zoellick said on March 19 in a discussion with
Mahmoud
El-Gamal, the Baker Institute’s Will Clayton Fellow in International
Economics. "The recovery
has begun, with some uncertainties," Zoellick said. The fact that China,
India and other nations may be emerging more quickly from the crisis than are
the European countries and the United States could also "complicate some
of the cooperation you saw during the heart of the crisis" when world
leaders took prompt action to avoid a total financial meltdown. Paulson, who spoke on March 26 as part of the Shell
Distinguished Lecture Series, recalled the difficulties getting Congress to
move aggressively during the financial crisis. Paulson also discussed his new book, “On
the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial
System,” and what he believes is the current need to scale back some of the measures
he helped enact. The discussion with Paulson was moderated by John
Diamond, the Baker Institute’s Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow
in Public Finance.
Mar 19, 2010 - TOUGH TALK, TOUGH LOVE
James A. Baker, III, honorary chair of the Baker Institute, and Ambassador Edward Djerejian, founding director of the Baker Institute, are featured in an article on diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel, past and present. The article also discusses the recent Baker Institute report, “Getting to the Territorial Endgame of an Israel-Palestinian Peace Settlement.”
